The 11-month-old was found smothered to death in a Killarney apartment last Sunday, leaving the Kerry town stunned.

Karol is being buried in his maternal homeland just four weeks before he was to celebrate his first birthday on April 17.

The toddler was also to visit Poland later this year to meet relatives who had not yet seen the bubbly, blonde-haired child.

Karol's father, Andrzej Piolunowicz (32), was found just metres from the little boy he had smothered to death, lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

Mr Piolunowicz, a hotel worker, had sustained self-inflicted stab wounds and died in Cork University Hospital on Thursday.

Karol will be laid to rest today by his heartbroken mother, Anna Rozycka (24), who paid a moving tribute to the Kerry community for how they had rallied to support her after the shocking events of Mother's Day. Anna was so moved by the support she received in Kerry, she has now vowed to return to Killarney once her son's funeral is concluded in Poland.

Before leaving Ireland, Anna said she was "very proud" to be part of the kind-hearted Killarney community.

She had discovered the toddler lying unresponsive in the Park Place apartment complex on Upper High Street, Killarney, shortly after 6pm last Sunday after she returned from work as a chef in a local hotel.

Karol will be buried today in Bielsko-Biala, a small town just outside the southern Polish city of Krakow, where Anna hails from.

Anna, accompanied by her mother, Teresa, flew back to Krakow from Dublin yesterday with her son's remains. Before leaving, she paid a heart-moving tribute to the Irish and Polish community in Kerry for doing so much to help her endure the unendurable.

In a statement released on Anna's behalf, she said: "I am impressed how (the) inhabitants of Killarney can rally around in (the) face of tragedy.

"Me and my family are proud to be part of this community. We have met a lot of wonderful people to whom we want to express our gratitude."